China completes "anti-terror" drill with Kazakhstan, ratifies Pakistan pact
BEIJING AFP 28/08/2006 10:28
China has concluded an "anti-terror" military drill with Kazahstan and ratified an agreement with Pakistan as part of its commitment to fighting extremism in Central Asia, state media said.
Both the drill and the pact targeted the "three evil forces" of terrorism, separatism and extremism, a vaguely defined term seen to refer mainly to the perceived threat of Muslim separatists in northwest China's Xinjiang region.
On Sunday, China and Kazakhstan wrapped up a comprehensive, three-day exercise that involved hundreds of police and special forces, the China Daily reported.
Armed helicopters and anti-riot vehicles were deployed in the exercise, which simulated various scenarios, including one that saw an enemy force trapped in a valley, the report said.
The drill along the countries' more than 1,500-kilometer (940-mile) border was carried out within the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, a six nation group formed in 2001 with a broad agenda ranging from anti-terrorism activities to economic cooperation.
One hundred observers from the organization's four other members -- Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan -- were present at the exercise, according to the paper.
As the drill was wrapping up Sunday, lawmakers in Beijing ratified an agreement with Pakistan to fight the "three evil forces."
The pact "defines terrorism, separatism and extremism, and outlines the scope of cooperation between the countries," state-run Xinhua news agency reported, but did not give details.
Originally signed in Islamabad in April 2005, the pact was "necessary as the three evil forces have threatened the lives of Pakistanis and Chinese working and living in Pakistan," according to Vice Foreign Minister Wu Dawei.
"The agreement will help safeguard China's national interest and promote cooperation between the two countries in those areas," Wu was quoted as saying.
http://www.bakutoday.net/view.php?d=25709
BEIJING AFP 28/08/2006 10:28
China has concluded an "anti-terror" military drill with Kazahstan and ratified an agreement with Pakistan as part of its commitment to fighting extremism in Central Asia, state media said.
Both the drill and the pact targeted the "three evil forces" of terrorism, separatism and extremism, a vaguely defined term seen to refer mainly to the perceived threat of Muslim separatists in northwest China's Xinjiang region.
On Sunday, China and Kazakhstan wrapped up a comprehensive, three-day exercise that involved hundreds of police and special forces, the China Daily reported.
Armed helicopters and anti-riot vehicles were deployed in the exercise, which simulated various scenarios, including one that saw an enemy force trapped in a valley, the report said.
The drill along the countries' more than 1,500-kilometer (940-mile) border was carried out within the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, a six nation group formed in 2001 with a broad agenda ranging from anti-terrorism activities to economic cooperation.
One hundred observers from the organization's four other members -- Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan -- were present at the exercise, according to the paper.
As the drill was wrapping up Sunday, lawmakers in Beijing ratified an agreement with Pakistan to fight the "three evil forces."
The pact "defines terrorism, separatism and extremism, and outlines the scope of cooperation between the countries," state-run Xinhua news agency reported, but did not give details.
Originally signed in Islamabad in April 2005, the pact was "necessary as the three evil forces have threatened the lives of Pakistanis and Chinese working and living in Pakistan," according to Vice Foreign Minister Wu Dawei.
"The agreement will help safeguard China's national interest and promote cooperation between the two countries in those areas," Wu was quoted as saying.
http://www.bakutoday.net/view.php?d=25709
